Slayer founder and Grammy Award-winning guitarist Jeff Hanneman died Thursday due to liver failure near his home in Southern California.
The band released a statement on their website and Facebook page saying, “Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11 a.m. this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry, and will be sorely missed.”
The 49-year-old guitarist had contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a rare skin tissue disease, two years ago from what is believed to be a spider bite. It is not clear whether the disease had anything to do with his death.
Hanneman was one of the founding members of the band in 1981. He recorded 10 studio albums with the band over a period of three decades. In 2006 and 2007 Slayer would win a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.
Celebrities and metal fans across the world reacted to Hanneman’s death online.
Andrew WK wrote, “Jeff Hanneman will always be a metal god. A true master, he gave energy and excitement to millions, and will continue to. #PartyForSlayer.”
Hatebreed wrote on the band’s Twitter page, “Rest In Peace Jeff Hanneman! A True Heavy Metal LEGEND!”
